The Villainess Wants To Go Home novel Chapter 78

"Say, old lady Alethia"

"hmm" I glanced down at Ben who stared at me, his violet eyes holding curiosity. "What is it kid?" I said with a bored tone.

Ben was silent for a second, his almond shaped eyes widening a little, pulling into a shocked expression. "You're the first to call me kid other than big brother Lykos" he said.

I rose an eyebrow still containing my monotone face. Of course, he would be confused since he is a prince and the only title that's called to him by people whose lower statues than him would call him 'Your highness' or 'Your majesty' or something, something.

Either way I couldn't give two fucks who he is, my only priority is getting the **** out of here before they start throwing questions at me that I do not have the mood to answer.

I looked away from him and stared endlessly at the wall.

A soft giggle was heard, and I side glance to the silver haired queen standing not far from me.

"It brings peace to my heart knowing how delighted they would be when they hear the revival of prince Benjamin" she said, her violet eyes softening at just the thought of their faces when they see the cheerful prince back to health again.

"I don't know how grateful I am to you, Lady Alethia." Her voice tremble when she spoke. It was the sound of relief that couldn't be breathed days ago but now can be released. "Thank you for saving my son" Arabella grasped my hand, cupping it between hers and locking her teary violet eyes into my icy blue ones. I could see the sincerity in her eyes and the overwhelming joy that was contained in those lavender orbs of the empress.

The colour in her face had returned from yesterday and she can sleep in peace tonight.

I looked down at my hand that was trapped in hers. Her hands were warm against my skin like they were heat packs I keep in my gloves in the middle of winter. Her hands were gentle to the feeling as if she was holding something so delicate.

I didn't like it.

My brows knitted together, and my lips turned into a little scowl that was invisible for her to see. I wriggled my hand from her gasp. "I appreciate your gratitude towards me but if there is nothing else you wish to discuss, I shall get going." I explained avoiding her gaze from and bending down to scoop the clingy bird that was busy blabbering about how amazing and beautiful he was in his fox form to the boy who didn't have a clue what he was saying and just kept smiling and patting his head so he wouldn't hurt the birds feeling.

"After all I have a quest, I need to accomplish" my words came out lazy yet cold.

"Hey! What are you doing?" Homura squawked, his head turning side to side at my hands that grabbed him. "I haven't finished talking to the human cub. Hasn't anyone told you to not interrupt creatures when they are speaking?" he raised his feathery fist in the air as he ranted but I ignored him and placed him on my shoulder.

I gave him the potion when we were coming here to still keep him under the same disguise for another hour but now, I only got 30 minutes before he turns back into the annoying pesky fox he is. My belongings were also given to me when I arrived in Ben's room. Everything was placed neatly back in my bag and my Kunai knives were also polished in return. How nice of them. 

Ben grin turned upside down when watching Homura being taken away from him by me and place on my shoulder, like I had taken away his toy.

He jolted up from his spot, his hands clenched into a fist in front of him and his eyes speaking confidence. "Can't you stay a little longer lady Alethia?" Ben spoke, his tone a little shaken.

I gazed into his little saddened eyes that begged for me to stay, his light pink cheeks puffing into a chubby little ball. I have never seen kids as adorable as what people would say they are, but Ben is a little exception.

I brought my fingers near his forehead and his eyes shifted to them "sorry kid, but maybe next time" I flicked his forehead making him close his eyes shut.

It was a lie. There is no more reason for me to return to Ventus after this. 'Sorry Ben but this the last time you will see Alethia even me' I didn't have any guilt by lying to him, it was for the best.

"Lies" Homura said bluntly loud "Your never coming back. Stop stirring up hope to this human cub" I felt my hand move on its own and snatched his beak shut, my lips forming into an irritated smile that tried to be nice.

"DONTHMHMH LISTENHMHMH" Homura still tried to speak with his mouth closed resulting in Ben to giggle behind his hands

I didn't need to look but the warm presence of the empress beside me felt as if she was smiling at me.

"Does old Lady Alethia promise?"

I stared at him expressionless, but I could feel my eyes widening a little from the little shock I experienced a moment ago.

"No, she doesn't" Homura answered with a loud annoying squeak. Ben titled his head to the side trying to figure out what the bird's tone indicated his answer to.

A long sigh escaped my lips, shuffling the side of my hair before opening my eyes to look back at him. Ben's violet eyes grew three times bigger as he waited for his answer patiently.

Stretching out my hand, I placed my palm on his head resulting Ben to lift his eyes up to look at the hand that was placed on his silver hair.

Ben's hair wasn't just shiny but soft against my skin. It reminded me of Daisuke's hair whenever I ruffled his hair. It was a nice feeling to remember.

"I cannot make promises I can't keep" I watched his face melt down into a frown, his lips twitching to keep his smile together, but his eyes failed to.

"Forgive me kid but this might be our last goodbye"

Ben stared down at his feet in defeat, those wistful violet eyes shaking from in sheer dejection by the words he just heard.

"There is nothing I can say is there?" he said with a soft tone that sounded as if he was about to cry.

"No, not really human cub. Artemis' black heart is set on returning to her world where humans open each other up." I glance coldly to Homura who slowly turned to face me, those beady eyes reflecting a mischief smile. "Bleh" he stuck his tongue out to hint how disgusted he was.

I looked away from him.

Ben lifted his head to face me again, eyes lifting up into a determined look when he locked his lavender orbs with my blue icy ones. He took a deep breath, puffing his chest up and releasing out a long exhale.

He reached his hands into the pockets sewn on the sides of his black pants before taking it out with a clenched fist and stretching towards my direction.

Ben slowly opened his palm to reveal a small oval shaped stone.

"I don't think you will accept anything rewarding but I hope you accept this small gift from me." Ben's expression turned to a stone confident look, his bright aura changing drastically into a determined king like his father.

I examined the stone in his palm. It wasn't like any stone I had seen before; it was like a glowing light tint of blue with pure white fog encircling the baby blue light within like it was fading away from the blue light in the middle, but the time had stopped resulting it to stay like that forever, trapped in a stone.

It was pretty.

"Tch more pretty stone" Homura grumbled. "What's with you humans and pretty coloured rocks. I don't get it"

'Because your not human'

"This stone had got me through many life-threatening events that's why I had it with me all the time just in case something bad happened to me" Ben explained with a gentle smile on his little face "I know it's a childish belief, but I hope it brings you luck like it had to me"

I accept the pretty oval shaped stone from his hand and clutched it between my two fingers to examine it some more. 'Saved you from death many times, huh. I think it failed you in the novel'

"Thank you" I nodded. This can be my souvenir when I return home. I can pawn this into a necklace and where it every day as a memory for saving a prince in a fantasy world. A pleasant gift from the heart, I like it.

With an inhale of a breath, I slid the stone in the pocket of my skirt "Well then, I shall be leaving" I said looking at Arabella who nodded in understanding, her hands gracefully in front of her as she stood elegantly in front of me.

"Stay safe kid and don't do anything stupid" I said placing my hands on my hips.

Ben's lips formed a big grin across his face which held pure innocence, but I could see in his eyes he was going to either way.

"Bye human cub" Homura waved his wing to him, a long sad tone came from "I hope to see you again one day." Homura sniffed, whipping away a tear.

I sweat dropped at his farewell 'Well, that's the first time I heard Homura say that to someone. I guess calling him beautiful will change his thoughts on you.... Like hell I'll say that to him, I'm not feeding his already massive ego'

"May the Gods bring protection on your journey, Lady Alethia" Arabella said her farewell.

'Thanks, but I don't need mighty beings protecting me. One already hates me and sent me here as a punishment' of course I said that in my head, so no one heard me except for myself.

With a nod of my head to her response I left the room, going out the huge double door before it was closed behind me by the guards.

Once the doors closed, I glanced to the side to see the king standing there, his head hung low and his silver eyes glancing at the floor.

"Watching him like that makes me not want to shit in his castle anymore. Pity" Homura spoke bluntly then to sigh.

"I still cannot muster up my courage to face her and apologise for what I did yesterday. I'm too ashamed of myself" He spoke in a low tone; his voice was hoarse and could be sensed that he has been crying silently.

"Then this could be a lesson learnt to you, Ambrose" I said coldly avoiding my gaze away from him who I sensed to have given me a distressful look. The glazed silver eyes that stared at me without an utter of word to be spoken. "It is wiser to lose your pride for the sake of the one you love than to lose the one you love for the sake of your pride."

"Your queen is your powerful ally. The only one that would stay when all is gone and the one to trust when things are dark. The queen is what stands at the bottom of the kingdom, holding it up to prevent it from collapsing"

"Tell me Ambrose, what is a king without his queen in a game of chess" I asked him finally glancing to his side. The tips of his brows came down to his eyes, his mouth came to form an upsetting frown, his teeth clenching together to keep himself from crying out loud.

The aura that surrounded him was just a pity to feel.

"Checkmate" he mustered up to say with a deep crack in his voice.

I blinked back my attention to the window far from where I stood. The sun reflecting through the giant glass and bringing light into the hall room, I could see white clouds passing by the window and birds flying freely through those same clouds and disappearing from my sight.